FuturAge Leadership & Consultants

Leadership & Consultants

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LEADERSHIP

Jackie Pinkowitz, M.Ed., Co-founder, Managing Partner, CEO

As managing partner and CEO of FuturAge, Ms. Pinkowitz focuses on providing Business Development to companies in the healthcare sector, working with National Healthcare Providers, Early and Later Stage Technology and Digital Media Companies.

As Chair of the national Consumer Consortium Advancing Person-Centered Living (CCAL), and Co-director of the Institute for Person-Centered Living (IPCL), Ms. Pinkowitz focuses on enhancing person-centered/directed services across home, community and residential settings. Her commitment to advancing consumer choice and providers’ operational excellence are fundamental values she incorporates in collaborating with national organizations and service providers across the social services and healthcare sectors.

Her commitment to empowering consumers through information and outreach led to her serving as Consumer Advisor to QualityHealth Network; creating national consumer-centered initiatives; and collaborating with person-centered technology application companies. Ms. Pinkowitz honed her marketing and communication skills at ASI, an advertising research firm, attaining the position of Senior Vice-President. As an advocate, she has written numerous articles in professional and consumer publications and speaks at national and state conferences and legislative hearings on strengthening the client/family/staff/ provider partnership to enhance quality of care and life across the life span.

Ms. Pinkowitz earned her M.Ed. from Rutgers University & holds advanced certification in special needs populations. Her career as an educator has spanned early childhood through eldercare She designs consumer and patient outreach programs for companies and nonprofit organizations; co-authors person-centered curricula and training materials; co-created a multidisciplinary web seminar at the University of Maryland Baltimore GECC which was awarded the CEAL Health Care Program Certificate of Excellence in 2009; and teaches a continuing education seminar on consumer-directed services for older adults for Rutgers University School of Social Work Institute for Families.

Ms. Pinkowitz is Vice-Chair of CEAL, the national Center for Excellence in Assisted Living in Washington, DC. She participated in the AHRQ-CEAL Disclosure Collaborative and the CEAL-UNC Community-Based Participatory Research Collaborative on Medication Management. She is a member of the advisory councils of Rutgers University School of Social Work Gerontology Program and the HealthCare Association of New Jersey. Ms. Pinkowitz served on the US Senate’s National ALW taskforce in Washington, DC & the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Taskforce in NY. She is president of the Brad J. Pinkowitz Memorial Fund, a private, non-profit foundation that provides educational materials and services to disadvantaged children.

Helene Monat, M.A, Co-founder, Executive VP, Business Development

Helene Monat was Co-founder and CEO of AdSafe Media, the rating standard for online content and industry leader in online brand protection. Prior to joining AdSafeMedia, Helene founded FuturAge, a consulting firm dedicated to bringing start-up companies to market success. In 2001 Helene was recruited by Lazard Freres to became CEO of Marketing Technology Solutions (www.mtscorp.com) and grew MTS to the internet's largest performance-based interactive health services company, serving 200 pharmaceutical brands. In 2008, Helene led the transaction bringing WebMD into the firm as a minority investor.

Prior to MTS, Helene was President of Catalina Marketing, the first data marketing company to leverage bar scan data at scale and one of the original behavioral targeting companies. While at Catalina, Helene led sales efforts, growing revenue from $2 million to IPO. Today Catalina has 1,200 employees in 9 countries and supports data-driven real-time transactions in approximately 50,000 stores. Catalina has been recognized by Ad Age as one of the 100 most important media companies in the world and was taken private in 2007 by Hellman and Friedman in a transaction valuing Catalina at $1.7 billion.

She sits on the Board of Directors of HealthiNation, a health video media company and Chairs a Foundation that supports educational opportunities for disadvantaged young children

Lon Pinkowitz, M.A, Executive VP, Sales & Marketing

As Senior Vice President of FuturAge, Mr. Pinkowitz has been actively involved in issues related to changing the business of care & services in America with particular focus on utilization of emerging technologies, as well as the implications of impending global workforce issues. He has applied his expertise in sales & marketing, marketing communications and organizational systems to assist start-up companies & enhance the bottom-line success of corporate & association clients.

Over the past thirty years, he has worked for C.R. Bard, Minnetonka & Tsumura International, having attained successive positions as Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, & Vice President of New Business Development / International Sales & Marketing. As a consultant, he utilizes his expertise to assist clients in maximizing and expanding their brand equity through repositioning, brand imaging, new product development, licensing, & regulatory issues. He assists both national & international clients in maximizing product assets through product redistribution & new market penetration. Mr. Pinkowitz conducts sales & marketing seminars for business leaders in both educational & professional venues.

Mr. Pinkowitz serves on the advisory boardl of the national Consumer Consortium Advancing Person-Centered Living (CCAL). Mr. Pinkowitz resides in Colts Neck, NJ & serves on the Board of Directors for a New Jersey-based private non-profit foundation that provides educational materials & services to disadvantaged children.

CONSULTANTS

William E. Reynolds, D.D.S., M.P.H.

Dr. Reynolds has held academic appointments at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health & the School of Dentistry, & at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Currently he is a Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Public Health and formerly a Public Service Professor at the School of Social Welfare

During the 26 years working for the New York State Department of Health, his roles included directing the Bureau of Standards Development & serving on the senior management team of the Office of Continuing Care. He was a key participant in efforts to improve systems of services for persons with disabilities as required by the Americans’ with Disabilities Act and the recent Olmstead Decision of the Supreme Court.

Dr. Reynolds has been a principle investigator of multiple grants to foster the development of a statewide system of services for persons with traumatic brain injury. As consultant to the California Department of Mental Health on behalf of the Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance Center, he wrote a grant proposal which led to a three year award to develop systems of services for persons with brain injury. Dr. Reynolds is carrying out the project under the direction of the California Department of Mental Health.

He has consulted with the Brain Injury Association of Florida on best practices for the provision of Medicaid waiver services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries to establish a framework for future BIAF planning regarding Medicaid and Medicaid waiver funding and legislation in Florida. In addition, Dr. Reynolds consulted with the State of Delaware on implementation of its Acquired Brain Injury Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver.

He has served on the boards of CARF-The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission and the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, of which he was president; & has served as a member of the board of the Pioneer Network, an organization committed to changing the culture of aging.

Dr. Reynolds has authored or co-authored over ten papers, abstracts and book chapters. His most recent publications include chapters in The Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, & in Culture Change in Long-Term Care. He co-edited issues of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation on the subject of “Public Policy Issues”. He has presented at over 50 professional conferences throughout the U.S.

Kathy Laurenhue, M.A.,

Kathy has a master’s in instructional technology (multi-media training) & is a certified Geriatric Activity Program Specialist, & former adjunct professor in Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. She was the director of learning development for Mather Institute on Aging, where she is noted for her work with professional & family caregivers & brain aerobics.

She is the author of the online Brain Aerobics Weekly & Wiser Now Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Tips, two blogs & three books:

Alzheimer’s Basic Caregiving – an ABC Guide, and its companion:
Activities of Daily Living – an ADL Guide for Alzheimer’s Care
Getting to Know the Life Stories of Older Adults: activities for building relationships.

Kathy also writes a weekly column for Activity Connection develops multi-media training materials, provides training & is a speaker for a number of clients:

The National Alzheimer’s Association
Pfizer Corporation
Terra Nova Films
Senior Living University
Sunrise Senior Living
Applied Aged Care Solutions (Melbourne, Australia)
Anglican Retirement Villages (Sydney, Australia)

Kathy’s work is practical & light-hearted; when we are coping with a serious illness, we need to tap into our sense of humor. Her inspiration comes from her ever-cheerful mother, who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 1996. The dual experiences of hands-on family caregiver & professional trainer give her an authentic perspective of multiple facets of caregiving that enable her to provide others with the tools for success. More information at www.wisernow.com

Lynn Lazarus Serper, EdD.

Dr. Serper is founder & creator of the Serper Method™, an innovative cognitive intervention program. This method is comprised of targeted mental exercises used successfully by individuals with age-related challenges as well as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke/aphasia, and traumatic brain injury. The activities, based on cognitive and memory brain research, relate to everyday events & furnish strategies for success. Each activity supports social interactions and expansion of thought and memory.

Dr. Serper served as Co- Investigator to Principal Investigator, Nancy Emerson Lombardo, of the Brain Enhancement Strengthening Treatment (BEST) research study through Boston University School of Medicine and had lead responsibility for the research Intervention using the Serper Method™ for persons with early-stage AD. She has also designed, taught and used The Serper Method™ through Brain Enhancement Services, Inc. with individuals challenged by stroke and brain injury, with persons struggling with early stage and mid stage Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and with individuals addressing age-related challenges.

Dr. Serper develops and conducts training of Cognitive Educators™ to teach subjects such as reading, history and geography and math and trivia using the Serper Method™ system. The materials and methods stimulate memory, thought, problem solving, and has been reported to promote increases in conversation, socialization and performing activities of daily living through relevance, interest, meaning and reminiscence.

Research projects using The Serper Method™ conducted under Dr. Serper’s guidance, have achieved successful results, in Chicago, IL, Richmond, IN and in Nashville, TN. She has also designed and used small group programs in Assisted Living Residences and adult day centers.

Dr. Serper is the author of the book Brainstorming: the Serper Method™ of Brain Recovery, Regrowth and Vitality, four Serper Method™ workbooks and two Serper Booster™ supplemental workbooks. More information at www.serpermethod.com.

Marianne Clancy

Marianne founded Autism AIMS, LLC to enable individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities their Ability to Interact Meaningfully in Society.

AIMS supports a person-centered approach that incorporates essential strategies and supports for individuals to engage with people and events in their communities. It promotes the collaboration of family, professionals and members of society; enabling individuals to gain the greatest ability for independence & meaningful inclusion.

As the mother of a teenage son with autism, Marianne has a decade of interest and personal experience using behavior analysis as a treatment for autism. She incorporates many behavior analytic principles and techniques into her everyday life with her autistic son as well as her daughters.

Marianne has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) since 2007 and as Chair of ASAT's Finance Committee. Marianne is a member of the Advisory Board of the Consumer Consortium for Advancing Quality Person-Centered Living (CCAL).

Earlier in her professional life Marianne was a trainer and documentation specialist, assessing procedures’ effectiveness, and designing procedure manuals, support documents and training materials. Having a child with special needs has given her the unique opportunity to combine her business expertise with her commitment to improve the quality of life for those affected by autism and other developmental disabilities throughout the lifespan.

Claudia S. Blumenstock, NHA

Claudia Blumenstock specializes in assisting long term care, senior housing and community based organizations in creating and enhancing Life-Enrichment initiatives for our aging population. She collaborates with clients to create individualized programs, services and events that complement existing cultures, fostering more meaningful and purposeful lives. The premise of her work is that the success of these approaches is in the understanding of each individual’s preferences and then reflected in the aligning of stakeholder perspectives, facility or community missions and niche position in the marketplace. Ms. Blumenstock utilizes research as a key component in understanding how to develop resident-specific offerings. She employs a focus group model which explores opinions and perspectives of key stakeholders. Information collected becomes an essential piece for organizations or communities to consider in the development of their offerings. Ms. Blumenstock is also the architect of “College Connections;” a collaborative product which links colleges and universities to active adult, senior housing and long term care organizations.

Ms. Blumenstock has over twenty-five years of experience working in the senior marketplace, strategizing and implementing an array of enhanced, resident focused, lifestyle options. Coupled with her expertise in market research, Ms. Blumenstock brings a full package of options to her clients which include:

· Applying practical techniques which build upon approaches currently in existence

· Providing hands-on techniques to staff/caregivers which give residents the ability to direct their lifestyle choices and preferences

· Utilizing the “College Connections” model to form relationships between senior communities or neighborhood communities and universities or colleges

· Creating collaborative opportunities among staff/caregivers, residents and community-at-large stakeholders, to customize programs, services and events unique to their environments

· Utilizing Life-Enrichment initiatives as a worthwhile financial investment

· Identifying challenges when implementing new concepts and strategies which traverse those barriers

· Utilizing a flexible focus group design and implementation process which provides clear and concise information to clients regarding staff/caregiver, resident and constituent perspectives and feedback

For more information, contact Ms. Blumenstock at claudia.blumenstock@gmail.com or by phone at (585) 329-2071

Linda S. Thompson, Professional Speaker, Author, and Corporate Trainer

With 30 years of marketing experience in Fortune 500 companies, Linda Thompson founded Life Path Solutions, Inc. She obtained her securities and insurance licenses and began assisting corporate clients with their insurance and investment needs.

As her clients’ challenges with eldercare issues grew, she created a team of professionals who could assist them in all aspects of life planning from elder care to retirement planning; from end-of-life planning to family communication.

As a corporate trainer, she designed and implements Planning for Tomorrow, a series of workshops and lectures specifically targeted for their Baby Boomer employees. Linda's most recent book, Every Generation Needs a New Revolution, addresses the human resource issues and challenges companies face with an ever-growing multigenerational workforce and presents practical solutions for bridging the cultural and communication gaps to enhance workplace cooperation and effectiveness.

During this same time, Linda and her mother built and shared a home in Arizona. Thus began Linda’s personal entrée into the world of the working caregiver. Her book, Planning for Tomorrow – Your Passport to a Confident Future, is the compilation of her lectures, research, and personal life experiences. Linda’s second book, A Caregiver’s Journey-You Are Not Alone, is a guidebook for working caregivers. A tribute to her mother and their years together, it was published just 3 days prior to her mother’s passing.

Linda is a frequent speaker at regional, state and national organizations and associations as she combines her expert insights with a keen sense of humor. Visit her website at http://LifePathSolutions.biz for additional information.